One of reasons why Russia invaded Ukraine its decision to join NATO – Georgian PM

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday told the Bratislava Global Security Forum that one of the reasons why Russia invaded Ukraine last year was the Kyiv’s decision to join NATO. 

 

“I do not want to speculate on this, nor do I want to quote the Russian government, but one of the reasons was the will and intention of the Ukrainians to become a member of NATO, and that is why we see the results”, Garibashvili said in reference to ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. 

 

The Russian army invaded the territory of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with Russian president Vladimir Putin announcing the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine as the goal of the “special military operation”.

 

The large-scale invasion of the Russian army in Ukraine was preceded by the so-called annexation of two separatist regions of Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk – by Russia and the recognition of “independence” of the territories. 

 

Before that, Russia demanded that Ukraine not become a member of NATO. On September 30, 2022, Russia announced annexation of the Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, however, it is unable to fully control any of them.